make up the number; be effective
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
2 senses · 6 examplesverb
to make up the number; to serve as a stopgap
informalOften used in a derogatory sense to indicate something is used just to fill a quota or complete a set, without being of real quality.
Bié别
ná拿
bù不
hé合
gé格
de的
chǎn产
pǐn品
dǐng顶
shù数
。
Don't use substandard products to make up the numbers.
Tā他
shòu受
shāng伤
le了
，
zhǐ只
néng能
lín临
shí时
zhǎo找
gè个
tì替
bǔ补
duì队
yuán员
dǐng顶
shù数
。
He's injured, so we can only temporarily find a substitute player to fill the spot.
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Zhè这
xiē些
jiù旧
jī机
qì器
zhǐ只
shì是
fàng放
zài在
nà那
lǐ里
dǐng顶
shù数
，
gēn根
běn本
bù不
néng能
yòng用
。
These old machines are just sitting there to make up the numbers; they're completely unusable.
adjective
to count; to be valid; to be useful
informalMost often used in a negative structure like '不顶数' to indicate something is ineffective or useless.
Nǐ你
shuō说
de的
bù不
dǐng顶
shù数
，
hái还
déi得
lǎo老
bǎn板
pāi拍
bǎn板
。
What you say doesn't count; we still need the boss's approval.
Guāng光
dào道
qiàn歉
bù不
dǐng顶
shù数
，
nǐ你
děi得
ná拿
chū出
shí实
jì际
xíng行
dòng动
lái来
。
Just apologizing isn't enough; you need to show practical action.
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Zhè这
zhǒng种
guò过
shí时
de的
jīng经
yàn验
yǐ已
jīng经
wán完
quán全
bù不
dǐng顶
shù数
le了
。
This outdated experience is completely useless now.